JACK KILBORN ~ TRAPPED (71 page)

The voice was soft, almost effeminate, but definitely male. Whoever it was, he knew Martin. Cindy stopped and swung around to face him.

The man was ridiculously tall and thin. He wore blue denim farmer’s overalls, and even in the low light Cindy could see a smiley face button pinned to one of the straps.

Tyrone had also turned to look. “Who the hell are you?”

“
Lester.”

Lester raised his camera and took another picture, causing Cindy to blink. She was still scared, and this guy totally qualified as creepy, but he seemed extremely relaxed. So far, his appearance was more menacing than actually threatening.

“
Do you know Martin, Lester?”

“
Martin is Lester’s friend.”

Cindy didn’t know if she bought that. But Martin was a psychologist, and he did work with all types of people.

“
How do you know Martin, Lester?” she asked.

“
Martin is Lester’s friend.” He paused, cocking his head to the side. “Would the boy and the girl like Lester to take them to Martin?”

God, did she ever. Martin was smart, and strong, and Cindy trusted him even more than she trusted Sara. But that didn’t mean she trusted Lester.

“
Do you know where Martin is, Lester?”

Lester smiled. Cindy was shocked to see fangs in the big man’s mouth.

Tyrone shook his head. “I don’t think so.” He backed up a step, pulling Cindy with him.

“
Lester won’t hurt the boy and the girl. That would make Martin angry. They should come with Lester.”

“
Where’s Martin?” Cindy asked.

Lester took another picture.

“
Stop taking pictures and tell me where Martin is!”

The strength in her voice surprised her. It must have surprised Lester too, because his smile became a deep frown.

“
The girl yelled at Lester. Lester doesn’t like that.”

Tyrone pulled her closer. “You know where Martin is, man? Then tell us.”

It hit Cindy all at once, like a physical blow.
Lester.
Lester
Paks.
This was the serial killer Sarah had told them about, the one that crazy doctor had experimented on.

Lester moved toward them, spreading out his arms. His reach was so wide he looked like he could hug a truck. “Lester will take the boy and girl to Martin. They will come with Lester. Martin will be so happy.”

When Lester got within five yards he’d officially gone from menacing, to threatening, to terrifying. She and Tyrone continued to back up, but Lester’s strides were so big he’d be on them in only a few seconds.

“
The boy and the girl shouldn’t try to run. Lester gets angry when they run.”

That’s when someone grabbed Cindy from behind.

Sara couldn’t find the kids.

After hearing Tom’s screams, she quickly stuck her head back through the window and into the cabin to grab something she saw inside. By the time she had it, the screaming had stopped.

Her first intention was to go after Tom, to protect him, to save him, and without considering anything else she’d impulsively headed in the direction of his cries.

But Sara wasn’t sure where he was, or even how far away, without the sound cues. Even worse, once she lost sight of the boat she became lost, unable to find her way back. That meant she’d abandoned Cindy and Tyrone.

She spent a good minute studying the compass, panicking to the point of hysteria, and then decided to follow a south-west direction, keeping as quiet as possible, listening for their voices.

Luckily, she found them, coming up from behind and placing a hand on Cindy’s shoulder so she didn’t get trampled by their quick pace.

Unluckily, they weren’t alone.

The man chasing them was so grotesquely tall it was almost funny. But unlike the cannibals, he had short hair and was clean shaven, and his clothes, though odd, looked relatively new.

Sara raised the weapon in her hand, pointing it at the tall man.

“
Stop,” she said, Not loud enough to attract undesired attention, but hard enough to show it wasn’t a request, but rather an order.

The tall man stood still, his arms still outstretched. “The woman has a flare gun.”

Sara had hoped it would be mistaken for the real thing, but she rolled with it. “And if you come any closer, I’m going to shoot it at you. It doesn’t shoot bullets, but I’m pretty sure it can set you on fire.”

He lowered his arms and titled his head at an angle, like a confused dog.

“
Is the woman Martin’s wife?”

She wasn’t prepared for the question, but she answered. “Yes. I’m Sara.”

“
Lester will take the Sara woman to Martin.”

“
Where is Martin?”

“
Martin is at the prison. With Tom boy, and Georgia girl, and Doctor.”

“
Doctor Plincer.” Sara felt the lump in her throat. “And you’re Lester Paks.”

“
Lester is Lester Paks. Doctor Plincer is Lester’s friend. Martin is Lester’s friend. The Sara woman should come with Lester.”

Sara’s hand was shaking now. She wanted this man to get the hell away from her and the kids. But first…

“
Is Joseph there? Joe? Joe Randhurst?”

Lester smiled, baring teeth that looked like they belonged to an alligator. “Yes. Joe is there.”

Sara limped in front of Cindy and Tyrone, putting herself between them and the serial killer. Her gun hand was shaking, but she made sure her words were strong.

“
Thank you for talking with us, Lester. But we aren’t going to go with you right now.” She tried to swallow, but her mouth was dry. “We’d like you to go away.”

Lester pulled something out of his pocket, and Sara cringed, trying to shield the kids. But Lester didn’t have a weapon. It was only a camera.

He snapped a picture, the flash momentarily blinding her.

“
The Sara woman is pretty.”

Sara blinked a few times, tried to focus.

“
Thank you for the compliment, Lester. Now you really do have to go. I don’t want to have to shoot you.”

Lester took another picture.

“
I’m serious, Lester. It’s time for you to leave.”

A tongue flicked out of Lester’s mouth, running across his bottom lip. “Lester is going to ask Martin. Lester will ask. Lester wants permission. Lester wants permission to bite the Sara woman’s pretty face off.”

He opened and closed his jaw several times, his sharp teeth making clicking sounds.

“
Get. The fuck. Back.” Sara said. “Now.”

Lester raised the camera, took one more picture, and then slipped into the woods.

Sara stood guard for a moment, listened to the woods. All she heard were crickets.

“
That was seriously effed up,” Tyrone said. “I would have shot his ugly ass.”

Sara nodded. “Me too. But the flare gun is empty. I couldn’t find any cartridges.” She looked over her shoulder. “Let’s get going. I think we’re really close.”

Sara led them through the woods, following the compass, the water sounds getting stronger until…

“
It’s the beach,” Cindy said, her enthusiasm making her sound ten years younger.

Sara was relieved as well. That relief became excitement when she saw the running lights of a boat moored offshore. She headed for the boat, her leg hurting a little bit less, her energy level kicking up several degrees.

“
Do we have to swim to it?”

“
No, Cindy. The Captain will use the dinghy again.”

The dinghy was a sixteen foot inflatable, shaped like a large U. It sat five. When they’d arrived at the island, it took two trips to get everyone from the boat to the shore. Sara listened for the outboard motor, but the lake was quiet.

“
Maybe he just got here,” Tyrone said.

“
Or maybe he’s already here.”

Sara spun around. Captain Prendick stood on the sand. Sara’s joy in seeing him was immediately dampened when she saw the rifle the pistol in his hand. It was pointed at her.

“
Drop the flare gun, Mrs. Randhurst.”

“
Captain, what are—”

He fired. The bullet went well over Sara’s head, but the sound was so loud and such a surprise she almost fell over.

“
Drop it. I have orders to take you to the prison. If you don’t want to come willingly, I was told to shoot you in the leg and leave you for the ferals.”

Sara dropped the empty flare gun. “You work for Dr. Plincer.”

Prendick shrugged. “I’m his supply man. He needs something, he pays me to get it for him. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship. Now start heading up the shore. Anyone tries to run, they’re a cannibal snack.”

“
What do we do?” Cindy whispered.

“
What he says.”

They began to march back the way they came. But Sara wasn’t ready to give up yet. Being at Dr. Plincer’s tender mercies was a worse proposition than fighting it out with the wild people. Prendick obviously hadn’t called the Coast Guard, like he said. But maybe he didn’t know she had. Which meant it was just a question of stalling him until they arrived.

“
You’re probably taking us to our deaths,” she said, over her shoulder.

“
Maybe. Of maybe you’ll just wind up crazy with a taste for other people.”

“
If it’s money you want…”

Prendick grinned, and it was an ugly thing. “I was wondering when you’d get to that. Everyone tries that, eventually. I’d happily listen to any offer, but the problem is the pay-off. You could promise me money, but then instead go to the police when we get back to the mainland.”

“
I could make a bank transfer. All I need is a cell phone.”

“
Again, what’s to stop you from going to the authorities?”

Sara glanced at the water, looking for other boats. There were no other lights for miles. She stopped walking, and stared at Prendick.

“
Maybe I can offer you something else.”

He smiled. “I get that offer a lot, too. But there’s still the law thing. I let you go, I get in trouble.”

Sara took another look at the water, then began to walk toward Prendick.

“
Maybe I can convince you I won’t say anything.”

Prendick shook his head. “I find you very attractive, Mrs. Randhurst. But I’ll be honest, here. Having to hold a gun on a woman while I make love to her isn’t exactly a turn on.”

“
I’ll hold it for you,” Tyrone said.

“
Nice try, kid. But the answer is no. Besides, I don’t want you thinking that you just need to stall me until the Coast guard gets here.” Prendick pinched his nostrils together.
“Mrs. Randhurst, this is the Coast Guard. We have been informed of your situation. Estimated time of arrival is nineteen minutes.”

Sara felt herself deflate.

“
Don’t blame yourself,” Prendick said. “The radio I gave you was broken. Only worked on my frequency.”

In a burst of anger, Sara unclipped the walkie-talkie from her belt and pitched it at him. She missed by two feet. He bent down and picked it up, keeping the gun on her the whole time.

“
I told you to pick another island, Mrs. Randhurst. I tried to insist. But you wanted this one. Now turn around and get to walking, or I will shoot you.”

“
You’re a bastard,” Sara said, with as much venom as she could muster.

“
I’ve been called worse, by better. Now move your ass, bitch. Or you can walk the rest of the way with a broken jaw.”

Captain Prendick pulled the heavy iron door closed, then wiped the sweat off his forehead with his sleeve.

He’d lied to Mrs. Randhurst. Several times, actually. But the doozy was when he’d told her he didn’t enjoy making love to a woman while holding a gun to her head.

He actually liked it quite a lot. In fact, the last three times Prendick got laid involved that very scenario. Had he been alone with Sara on the beach, he would have definitely gotten his groove on.

But those kids had been there too. Not that Prendick had any sort of performance anxiety. It just wasn’t easy to drill some broad while making sure they didn’t run off.

After they were safely locked up, Prendick did seriously consider throwing Mrs. Randhurst up against the bars and going at it.

But he didn’t do it. He’d wanted to. It’s not like it mattered. Everyone who came here was as good as dead. Giving them a final toss before they met their maker was throwing a starving dog a bone.

Heh heh. Bone.

The Randhurst woman, though, didn’t have that desperate, needy, broken look about here. She looked like, if given the chance, she would kick Prendick’s ass.

So he locked her up with the kids, and left horny and frustrated.

It never occurred to Prendick to try anything with the girl. She was too young, and he considered himself a good man.